The UK National Bingo game was started in June 1986 and is the second biggest computer controlled game, the first largest being the UK National Lottery. Effectively what happens is that every bingo club in the UK, and presently there are approximately 470 club participating, calls the same number in a particular game. It is defined as a game of multiple bingo and only three such games daily are allowed under UK Legislation.
Land based bingo clubs do not only have to take into account what is paid out by the National Bingo game and therefore the national games do not count in the maximum prize limit of any one club. The game has grown exponentially and in 2005 the National bingo game awarded more than ₤19 million in prizes to winners, this grew in 2005 to more than ₤43 million and in 2006 to over ₤46 million, dropping slightly in 2007 to nearly ₤38 million. This could be attributable to the fact that the smoking ban was levied in 2007 and less players were attending the bingo. However there has been huge growth in prize money distributed over the years and we can only wait to see what will be paid out in 2008.
